Carton forming machines



March 19, 1963 J. F. DION 'GARTON FORMING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. (/ofin [17/077 BY W-PM tat-N12277:

Filed June 1, 1961 March 19, 1963 J.-F. DION CARTON FORMING mcnmss '4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 1, 1961 R m m V m A BY m m w A March 19, 1963 J. F. DION cm'ou FORMING umcumms Filled June 1, 1,961

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. (lo/2n F 0/0; BY a +72! wa-Rn% March 19, 1963 J. F. DION cmou FORMING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. (/ofin E1710 Filed June 1, 1961 3,081,675 CARTON FORMTNG MACHlNES John F. Dion, East Lougmeadow, Mass, assignor to Package Machinery Company, East Longmeadow, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed June 1,1961, Ser. No. 114,155 6 Claims. (Cl. %51) The present invention relates to carton forming machines of the type which construct a carton or box from a flat blank which is usually scored to define the flaps and panels comprising the carton and more particularly the invention relates to such machines wherein the cor ners of the carton are held in assembled relation by a glueless interlock of edges formed on the blank.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and reliable device for fully inserting a locking tongue, extending from one side wall of a carton, into a slit formed in an adjacent side wall to thereby lock a glueless corner construction in assembled relation and further to provide such a device which is effective in inserting the looking tongue where there is an interference of carton material preventing its free insertion into the slit.

in carton forming machines of the type herein referred to, blanks are successively fed beneath a reciprocating plunger. On the downstroke of the plunger, the blank is plunged into a forming well wherein the side walls of the blank are folded upwardly and locking tongues at each corner are projected into slits formed in adjacent walls. As the plunger continues down, fingers engage the exterior of the carton and exert a pressure on the tongues which causes their free ends to be positively displaced and fully inserted into the slits and into locking relation. The plunger then moves upwardly and the erected carton is withdrawn from the bottom of the well by an extractor. The inserting fingers preferably move downwardly at the same rate as the carton and then return upwardly to their initial position. In the case of certain types of carton, the fingers are preferably retracted away from the carton prior to any upward movement so that this upward movement can begin before the carton blank is extracted from the well.

The above and other related objects and features of the invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description of the disclosure found in the accompanying drawings and the novelty thereof pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation showing the well of a carton forming machine embodying the present invention with certain parts displaced from their true operative positions for convenience of illustration;

FIG. 2 is an end-elevation thereof taken on line II-II in FIG. 1 and with the parts thereof shown in their true relative positions;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view partially in section illustrating the mode of operation of the present device;

FIG. 4 is a section taken generally on line IV-IV in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective View of a glueless corner interlock partially assembled on the illustrated machine;

FIG. 5a is a view, on a reduced scale, of a corner portion of a carton blank to be assembled in the fashion illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 6 is a section, with portions broken away, taken generally on line VI-VI in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a section taken generally on line VIIVII in FIG. 1 with parts shown in their true relative positions; and

FIG. 8 is a section taken generally on line VIII-VIII in FIG. 1 with parts also shown in their true relative positions.

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Reference is first made to FIGS. 5 and 5a which illustrate one corner of a carton and the corresponding portion of a blank b from which it is assembled. Generally speaking all corners of a carton are essentially identical, and such is assumed to be the case in the present disclo sure. A description of one corner of the blank b and the carton formed therefrom will therefore suffice. The carton blank comprises a bottom panel 14, with an end wall 16 and side wall 18 hingedly connected thereto along the illustrated intersecting score lines. A locking tongue 2t projects from a flap 22 which is hingedly connected to the end wall 16 along a score line which approximately intersects the intersection of the previously mentioned score lines, that is the last-named score line is offset from said intersection a distance approximating the thickness of the blank in accordance with known practices. A bent internal cut 23 is formed in the side Wall 18 and comprises a lower portion 24 extending outwardly from the bottom panel 14 and an upper portion 26 also extending outwardly and further extending away from the adjacent end wall 16 to a greater degree than the lower portion 24. The cut 23 may comprise a third portion which extends back towards the bottom panel.

The blanks [2, FIGS. 1 and 2, are successively fed by known means between side guides 30 and against stops 32 to thereby position the bottom panel 14'; in alignment with a forming well 34. The bottom panel is also aligned beneath a plunger 36 which has a plate 38 of the same outline as the panel 14.

The plunger 36 is moved down into the forming well 34 by known means. As this occurs the blank b is drawn between plates'4t'l and 42 which define in part the front and rear sides of the forming well. These plates are curved at their upper ends to facilitate bending of the carton side walls 18 upwardly. Upon further downward movement of the plunger, the tongues 20 and flaps 22 engage folders 44, aligned with and at each end of the plates 44 42. The tongues 24 are then upright as the end walls. 16 are swung to an upright position by engagement with curved fingers 46 defining the ends of the forming well 34. As this occurs the flaps defined by the internal cuts 23 will be bowed outwardly by pins 48 projecting from corner posts fill which also comprise the plunger 36. The locking tongues are therefore inserted into the slits or slots created in the adjacent side walls of the carton in the fashion illustrated in FIG. 5. The carton forming elements described to this point are well known to those skilled in the art, and further details are deemed unnecessary for an understanding of the present invention.

It will be seen from FIG. 5 that the tongue 26 is prevented from freely entering the slit in well 15 by reason of the interference of material at i. The means new to be described insure the complete insertion of the locking tongue into this slit, particularly where there is such an interference preventing free insertion thereof.

These means comprise four fingers 52 mounted adjacent the corners of the forming well 34. Means are provided for moving each finger 52 into engagement with the carton at a point adjacent to and spaced beneath the upper portion 26 of the bent cut in side wall 18. This relationship is shown in FIG. 5. Each of the fingers 5'2 are then moved interiorly of the forming well. so that the interfering portion i is snapped past the bent cut and the tongue 20 fully inserted into (the carton.

The fingers 52 are threaded into offset portions at the lower ends of links 54 (see FIG. 1). Each link 54 is pivotally connected at its upper end to an arm 56 and at its lower end to an arm 58. One pair of arms 56 is rigidly secured to a shaft 6% at the front of the forming well, while the other pair of arms 56 is secured to a second shaft 60 at the rear of the forming well. The

shafts 69 are rotatably mounted in journals 62 secured to upright frame members 64. One pair of the arms 58 are respectively pivotally connected to a pair of links 66. The other pair of arms 58 are respectively connected to a second pair of links 66. The first pair of links 66 are pivotaily connected at their upper ends to the shaft 60 at the front of the forming well and the second pair of links 65 are likewise pivotally connected to the other shaft 6%.

The links o6 have offset portions at their lower ends which facilitate their being connected to bars 68 by means of screws '70. One bar 68 interconnects the first pair of links 65 and another bar 63 interconnects the other pair of links 66.

Each pair of links 66 is normally held in an upright position by latch means now to be described, with particular reference to PlGS. 'l, 6 and 8; the description being applicable to either pair of links.

A block '72 is secured to a vertical frame member 74 by a screw 76 and is provided with a bearing sleeve (FIG. 6) for journaling the shaft 60. A latch plate 30 is also provided with a bearing sleeve and is pivotally mounted on shaft ss. An angle piece 82 is integrally formed at the lower end of the latch plate 80. The angle piece 32 facilitates securing of latch plate 80 to the bar 63 by means of screw 84. A latch 86 is pivotally mounted on a pin 38 projecting from block 7 6. A spring 96 extending between latch 86 and plate maintains the latch in engagement with a notch 92 on plate St). The spring 9% also tends to rotate the plate 88 in a counterclockwise direction and with it the two links 66 secured to the bar as.

Also, associated with each latching mechanism is an operating member 94 which is secured to the shaft 60 contiguously of the latch plate 80. The member 94 includes an arm 96 having a tension spring 98 extending therefrom to a fixed frame plate 189. The spring 98 tends to rotate the shaft es in a clockwise direction.

A second arm Hi2 projects from the operating member 94 with a headed screw 164 adjustably threaded therein. A pin 1% projects from the angle piece 82 into abutting relation with the screw 1434. The force of spring 98 tending to rotate shaft 6% in a clockwise direction, is transmitted through pin 1% to bar 68. A screw 108 is threaded through a lug 110 depending from bar 58 and engages frame member 74 to limit clockwise rotation of shaft 60 and also to position the links as upright as shown by the full line positions of the parts. This upright position is maintained so long as the latch 36' is maintained in engagement with the notch 92.

Each set of elements comprising a connected arm 56, link 54, arm 58 and link 66 forms a parallel linkage, with the finger 52 projecting from the parallelly moving link. All of the parallel linkages are moved in unison by simultaneous rotation of the shafts 6% in opposite directions. This simultaneous rotation is provided for by a link 112 (FIG. 2) pivotally connected to arms 114 which in turn are respectively clamped to the shafts 69. One of the operating members 94 has a third arm 116 (FIG. 7) carrying a roll 117 which is engaged by a depressor foot 118 adjustably threaded into a bar 12 3 projecting from the plunger 36. As the plunger descends the operating member .94 is rotated and with it both of the shafts 60. The fingers 52 therefore move downwardly at the same rate as the plunger and the carton passing through the forming well.

Each finger 52 is initially in an elevated position as indicated by the full line showing in FIG. 4. As the shafts 60 are rotated, the finger 52 follows the indicated path of movement a to the illustrated phantom position. Each finger thus moves from a first position spaced outwardly of the forming well to a second position interiorly thereof. In the phantom position, the finger 52 engages the carton at a point adjacent to and spaced beneath the upper portion 2a of the internal cut 23 as indicated in FIGS. 3 and 5. The fiap, defined by that cut, and the tongue 20 are deflected inwardly displacing the interfering portion 1' interiorly of the carton. It will also be seen from FIG. 3 that the posts 50 (of the plunger 36) extends to the points of engagement of the fingers with the carton and are provided with openings or recesses 122. The openings 122 permit deflection of the tongues 20, and particularly interfering portions 1', interiorly of the carton and facilitates this insertion of the tongue by supporting the carton in an area surrounding and spaced from the contact point of each finger 52.

The positive displacement of the locking tongue 20, as described, is particularly advantageous when using carton blanks constructed in accordance with my copending application Serial No. 12,598, filed March 3, 1960. As illustrated in the drawings, the upper edge of the locking tongue engaging the upper portion 25 of the bent cut 23 is angled relative thereto to provide a camming action. The positive inward displacement of the tongue 20 insures full camming action between these two edges and a tightly locked corner construction. When the fingers 52 are moved to their operative positions (shown in phantom in FIG. 4), surfaces 124 (FIG. 7), on operating members 94, engage pins 126 projecting respectively from each latch 86. The latches 86 are thus disengaged from the notches $2 and the latch plates 84? swung in an outward direction under the influence of springs as. Each pair of links 66 is thereby swung away from the well 34 to a position limited by engagement of the bar 68 (FIG. 8) with an extension 128 "from the block 72.

When the links 66 are swung outwardly the fingers 52 each move along path c (FIG. 4) to a third position indicated at k in FIG. 2. After the plunger reaches the bottom of its stroke, the fingers 52 move along path d to return to their full line start positions. This means that the operating member 94 may freely follow upward movement of foot 118 on plunger 36 to return the fingers upwardly since at that time the fingers are spaced outwardly of the forming well in following path a. This also means that upward movement of the plunger may begin before the formed carton is removed from the well 34.

'The provision of means for displacing the fingers 52 outwardly of the forming well after the inserting operation is particularly desirable when forming high walled cartons, as illustrated, or cartons having a cover hingedly connected to one side wall. However, when forming low wall cartons, there is no need to modify the parallel linkage to enable the upward movement of the fingers 52 to be along a path spaced outwardly of the forming well.

Thus, for low walled cartons the mechanism for moving the fingers 52 may be much simpler with the elimination of block 72 and latch plate 80.. The same simplification can also be attained if the stroke of the plunger is made long enough to advance the formed carton a sufficient distance below the fingers 5'2. Other modifications will also occur to those skilled in the art and the scope of the present invention is therefore to be derived from the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as novel and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A carton forming machine for erecting cartons from blanks comprising a bottom panel and side walls hingedly connected to adjacent sides of the bottom panel, one of said side walls having a bent internal out which extends outwardly of the bottom panel with the outer portion thereof being directed away from said other panel to a greater degree than the inner portion thereof, the other of said walls having a tongue hingedly connected thereto along a line approximately intersecting the hinge lines connecting said side walls to said bottom panel; said machine comprising means for folding the side walls upright and at least partially inserting said tongue into said bent cut, said folding means including a forming well and a plunger movable downwardly into and upwardly out of said forming well; characterized by a lock tongue inserting finger movable between an upper position in which it is spaced outwardly of said Well and a second, lower position in which its end is disposed interiorly of said well, means for moving said finger from its upper position to its second position as the plunger moves downwardly with the carton formed thereabout and with the end of the finger engaging the carton adjacent and below said bent cut in the second position of the finger so as to displace the locking tongue interiorly of the carton, said moving means including means for mounting the finger independently of the plunger and imparting to said finger a downward component of movement having a rate substantially identical with the downward rate of movement of the plunger, means for returning the finger to its upper position as the plunger moves upwardly and means for preventing contact between the formed carton and the finger as the plunger moves upwardly and the finger returns to its upper position.

2. A carton forming machine as in claim 1 wherein the finger mounting means comprise a parallel linkage formed by a pair of vertically spaced arms pivotal about axes disposed on a line parallel to the path of movement of said plunger and a link pivotally mounted on said arms about axes which are respectively spaced towards said well an equal distance from said first-named axes and said finger projects from said link.

3. A carton forming machine as in claim 2 wherein the means for preventing contact between the carton and the finger as the plunger moves upwardly comprise means for displacing the parallel arm adjacent said finger outwardly of said well upon the finger reaching said second position and maintaining said arm in this outwardly displaced postion until the finger is returned to a point adjacent said upper position and means for then returning said adjacent arm to its original position when the finger has returned to its upper position.

4. A carton forming machine as in claim 2 wherein a finger is mounted adjacent each corner of the forming well and a parallel linkage is provided for moving each finger, and further wherein rotatable shafts are respectively mounted parallel to the front and rear sides of said forming well and the upper arms of each parallel linkages are respectively secured to said shafts, and wherein the moving means include means for simultaneously rotating said shafts to move said fingers between their upper and second positions.

5. A carton forming machine as in claim 4 wherein links are respectively connected to the outer ends of the lower arm of each parallel linkage, said second links also being pivotally mounted on said shafts, means interconnect both second links on each shaft, spring means urge said lower arms away from said forming well, a latch plate is connected to each interconnecting means and pivotally mounted on the associated shaft, latch means prevent such outward movement, and further wherein means are provided for disengaging said latch means upon movement of said fingers to said second positions whereby the fingers are spaced outwardly of the well as they are returned to their first positions, and means are further provided for returning the lower arms to their initial positions and reengaging said latches upon return of the fingers to their first positions.

6. A carton forming machine as in claim 1 wherein the means for preventing contact between the carton and the finger include means for displacing the finger outwardly of said well upon the finger reaching said second position and means for maintaining the finger exteriorly of said well as it is returned to its upper position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A CARTON FORMING MACHINE FOR ERECTING CARTONS FROM BLANKS COMPRISING A BOTTOM PANEL AND SIDE WALLS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO ADJACENT SIDES OF THE BOTTOM PANEL, ONE OF SAID SIDE WALLS HAVING A BENT INTERNAL CUT WHICH EXTENDS OUTWARDLY OF THE BOTTOM PANEL WITH THE OUTER PORTION THEREOF BEING DIRECTED AWAY FROM SAID OTHER PANEL TO A GREATER DEGREE THAN THE INNER PORTION THEREOF, THE OTHER OF SAID WALLS HAVING A TONGUE HINGEDLY CONNECTED THERETO ALONG A LINE APPROXIMATELY INTERSECTING THE HINGE LINES CONNECTING SAID SIDE WALLS TO SAID BOTTOM PANEL; SAID MACHINE COMPRISING MEANS FOR FOLDING THE SIDE WALLS UPRIGHT AND AT LEAST PARTIALLY INSERTING SAID TONGUE INTO SAID BENT CUT, SAID FOLDING MEANS INCLUDING A FORMING WELL AND A PLUNGER MOVABLE DOWNWARDLY INTO AND UPWARDLY OUT OF SAID FORMING WELL; CHARACTERIZED BY A LOCK TONGUE INSERTING FINGER MOVABLE BETWEEN AN UPPER POSITION IN WHICH IT IS SPACED OUTWARDLY OF SAID WELL AND A SECOND, LOWER POSITION IN WHICH ITS END IS DISPOSED INTERIORLY OF SAID WELL, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID FINGER FROM ITS UPPER POSITION TO ITS SECOND POSITION AS THE PLUNGER MOVES DOWNWARDLY WITH THE CARTON FORMED THEREABOUT AND WITH THE END OF THE FINGER ENGAGING THE CARTON ADJACENT AND BELOW SAID BENT CUT IN THE SECOND POSITION OF THE FINGER SO AS TO DISPLACE THE LOCKING TONGUE INTERIORLY OF THE CARTON, SAID MOVING MEANS INCLUDING MEANS FOR MOUNTING THE FINGER INDEPENDENTLY OF THE PLUNGER AND IMPARTING TO SAID FINGER A DOWNWARD COMPONENT OF MOVEMENT HAVING A RATE SUBSTANTIALLY IDENTICAL WITH THE DOWNWARD RATE OF MOVEMENT OF THE PLUNGER, MEANS FOR RETURNING THE FINGER TO ITS UPPER POSITION AS THE PLUNGER MOVES UPWARDLY AND MEANS FOR PREVENTING CONTACT BETWEEN THE FORMED CARTON AND THE FINGER AS THE PLUNGER MOVES UPWARDLY AND THE FINGER RETURNS TO ITS UPPER POSITION. 